Adjustable partition for



March 31, 1964 w. G. FRENCH 3,126,892

ADJUSTABLE PARTITION FOR FILES Filed Dec. 21, 1961 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM G. FRENCH A TTORN E Y5.

United States Patent 3,126,892 ADJUSTABLE PARTITION FOR FILES William G. French, 110 Ivory Sh, Frewshurg, N.Y. Fiied Dec. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 161,014 1 Claim. (Cl. 12931) This invention relates broadly to filing devices and more particularly to adjustable partitions for shelf files and the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable partition for shelf files and the like which is freely adjustable longitudinally of the shelf file in a simplified manner and readily detachable from the shelf file guide rail at any point along the same, thereby eliminating the necessity for removing the contents of the shelf file and shifting the partition to the end thereof for removal as commonly required in the prior art.

A further important object is to provide a file divider for a shelf file or the like having a guide rail upon which the divider is adjustably mounted, and wherein the divider is releasably locked frictionally to the rail in any selected position along the rail and freely shiftable longitudinally of the rail to other adjusted positions by merely tilting the divider to release the frictional engagement between it and the guide rail.

Another object is to provide an adjustable file divider of the above-mentioned character including simplified manually operable latch means permitting complete detachment of the divider from its guide rail at any desired point along the latter without necessitating the removal of files or the shifting of the divider to one extreme end of the guide rail.

Further and more general objects are to provide a file divider or partition which is simplified in construction, sturdy and durable, reliable and efficient in operation, very easy to operate and economical to manufacture.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shelf file having adjustable partitions according to the invention mounted thereon, partly broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a similar section taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 4 is a similar section taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a shelf file assembly constructed in accordance with the invention and comprising a horizontal bottom wall 10, an upstanding side wall 11 and end walls 12, all suitably rigidly secured together, one side of the shelf file being entirely open in the usual manner.

Formed integral with the bottom wall 11) and extending longitudinally thereof for the entire length of the same is a depressed channel 13, open at its top and spaced intermediate the side wall 11 and the open side of the shelf file and relatively near said open side, as shown. Secured rigidly to the bottom wall of the channel 13 by spot welding or the like is a U-shaped guide rail 14 which extends longitudinally of the channel continuously and for its entire length. The U-shaped guide rail 14 is disposed oif center relative to the channel 13 toward the inner side of the channel and carries top horizontal longitudinal flanges 15 and 16 integral therewith. The flange 15 is preferably in contact with the inner side wall of the channel 13 and may be rigidly secured thereto by welding or the like, if preferred. The opposite flange 16 is spaced a substantial distance from the outer side wall 17 of channel 13, providing an open longitudinal passage 18 therebetween throughout the entire length of the channel and guide rail. The flanges 15 and 16 are disposed at the same elevation and are both spaced somewhat below the bottom wall 10 of the shelf file and considerably above the bottom wall of the channel.

Each adjustable partition or file divider comprises a generally rectangular plate body portion 19 which is substantially vertical during use and of a proper size to fit within the shelf file and permit the required movements of the same therein. Each plate body portion 19 is bodily rigidly secured by spot welding or the like to the vertical position of an L-shaped carrier bracket 20 and positioned thereby in vertically spaced relation to the bottom wall 10. Each such bracket also includes a bottom horizontal portion or wall 21 adapted to bear slidably upon the flange 16, FIGURE 2 in a substantially horizontal position. As shown in FIGURE 2, the width of the L-shaped carrier bracket is substantially equal to the width of the guide rail 14 including the flanges 15 and 16 thereof.

At its side nearest the channel wall 17, the horizontal bracket portion 21 is formed to provide a side depending hook or channel-like extension 22 integral therewith and terminating in a generally horizontal and somewhat inclined lower lip 23 adapted to underlie the longitudinal edge portion of the flange 16 slidably when such flange is received by the channel-like extension 22, FIGURES 2 and 3. The extension 22 in assembly lies parallel to the longitudinal edge of the flange 16 and extends preferably for the full length of the horizontal bracket portion 21.

Inwardly of the extension 22 and lip 23, an L-shaped friction detent element or shoe 24 is rigidly secured by welding or the like to the bottom face of bracket portion 21 and includes a depending vertical flange 25, adapted to bear frictionally against the inner face of the outer vertical wall 26 of guide rail 1 when the parts are positioned as shown in FIGURE 2. The flange 25 is parallel to the wall 26 and also parallel to the extension 22 and preferably extends longitudinally for the entire length of the horizontal bracket portion 21. When the parts are positioned as in FIGURE 2 so that the bracket portion 21 is substantially horizontal and substantially parallel to the two flanges 15 and 16, the flange 25 has tight wedging or frictional engagement against the guide rail side wall 26 and the channel-like extension 22 tightly grips the longitudinal edge of the guide rail flange 16, whereby the particular file partition is releasably locked in the selected longitudinally adjusted position upon the guide rail 14. In this respect, FIGURE 2 of the drawings corresponds to the showing of the left-hand partition illustrated in FIGURE 1.

A manually operable and gravity influenced locking dog or plate 217 of generally rectangular shape is disposed in a vertical plane above the bracket portion 21 and is pivoted for vertical swinging movement at 28 to the vertical portion 21) of the partition L-shaped carrier bracket. The pivot 28 of the dog 27 is disposed near one end of the dog and near and inwardly of the side of the carrier bracket which is remote from the ohannelalike extension 22 and above the same. The pivot element 28 lies approximately over the horizontal portion of the L-shaped shoe 24, as shown. The other end of the dog 27 is free- 1y disposed for vertical swinging movement directly over the extension 22 land is adapted to rest upon this extension under the influence of gravity. The free end of the dog 27 lies close to and opposite the shoulder 29 at the junction of the bottom wall 18 and channel side wall 17. The dog 27 assumes an inclined position relative to the horizontal, FIGURE 2, when the bracket portion 21 is approximately horizontal.

When it is desired to release one of the adjustable partitions from the locked position shown in FIGURE 2, it is merely necessary to rock or tilt the same with its L- shaped carrier bracket toward the outer open side of the shelf file as illustrated in FIGURE 3 and at the intermediate partition shown in FIGURE 1. When the partition and the bracket portion 211 reach the approximate position shown in full lines in FIGURE 3, the frictional flange 25 of detent shoe 24 has swung upwardly upon an arc having its center at the eye of extension 22 and is spaced from and released from frictional engagement with the Wall 26 of the guide rail. In such position, the particular partition or file divider may be shifted freely and slidably along the flange 16 of the guide rail in either direction longitudinally to a new selected adjusted position within the shelf file and subsequently locked in the new position merely by returning the parts to the position shown in FIGURE 2.

With reference to the broken line position of parts illustrated in FIGURE 3, the free end of the pivoted dog 27 positively engages the shoulder 29' when the partition is tilted prior to longitudinal adjustment and this limits the extent to which the partition and its carrier bracket may be tilted and prevents separation of the carrier bracket from the guide rail 14 but does not interfere with the tree sliding of the partition longitudinally of the guide rail 14.

With reference to FIGURE 4 and the rightahand endmost partition shown in FIGURE 1, to completely separate the partition from the guide rail 14 at any desired point along the latter, it is merely necessary to first elevate the free end of the dog 27 with the finger and then tilt the partition and its bracket 2ll21 toward the open side of the shelf file and while the dog 27 is elevated clear of the shoulder 28, the partition assembly may readily be lifted clear of the guide rail 14, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. When the dog 27 is elevated, there is sufficient clearance between the extension 22 and flange 25 to permit readily separation of these elements from the guide rail flange 16 and wall 26. With this arrangement, it is therefore unnecessary to remove files from the shelf file or to shift the file partition to the extreme end of the guide rail tor removal. The partition may be readily re-engaged with the guide rail without any difliculty .at any point along the latter as should be obvious to anyone skilled in the art without the necessity of further description.

Quite obviously, any desired number of partitions according to the invention may be employed with the shelf file and the three partitions shown in FIGURE 1 are illustrative only and show the various stages of operation of the invention. Additionally, while the invention has been illustrated in conjunction with a shelf file, it will be understood that the same may be employed with equal facility in a file cabinet drawer or a filing box having a bottom wall termed to provide the channel 13 for accommodating the guide rail 14.

According to the invention, the partition is releasably secured in selected adjusted positions by frictional or wedging engagement only and there is no necessity for providing looking teeth or the like upon the guide rail and no necessity tor any springs, levers, buttons or like moving parts on the assembly except for the simple locking dog 27. Longitudinal adjustment is achieved merely by tilting and sliding the partition as described and by returning it to the level position where it irictionally engages the vguide rail. Separation of the partition from the guide rail at any point therealong and without distunbing files is achieved by merely lifting the dog 27 and tilting and lifting the partition.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claim.

What :is claimed is:

In a filing device, a file receiving body including a bottom wall having a longitudinally extending depressed channel formed therein, a guide rail secured Within and below the top of said channel and extending longitudinally thereof, said rail having an upstanding side wall and a laterally projecting flange spaced from a side wall of the channel, a partition within said body transverse to said rail, .a bracket carrying said partition and having a bottom portion resting slidably upon said flange of the guide rail, a hook shaped extension on said bottom portion of the bracket loosely embracing said rail flange and permitting tilting of the partition in its own plane transversely of the rail, a friction shoe element on the underside of said bracket bottom portion spaced laterally of said extension a distance equal to the width of said laterally projecting rail flange and frictionally engaging said rail side wall to clamp the rail flange between the shoe element and the hook shaped extension when the bracket bottom portion is approximately level to releasably lock the partition to the guide rail, said partition when slightly tilted in its plane about the rail flange as a fulcrum releasing said shoe element from frictional engagement with the rail so that the partition may be slidab'ly moved longitudinally thereof, and a gravity influenced, manually liftable dog pivotally secured to said partition for vertical swinging movement above the bottom portion of the bracket, said dog when in a gravity lowered position being spaced from said channel wall sufficiently to permit slight tilting and longitudinal sliding movement of said partition but engaging said channel side wall above the guide rail upon further tilting of the partition to prevent separation of said bracket extension and partition from the rail, said dog when in .a manually elevated position clearing the channel side wall and permitting increased tilting of the partition and complete separation thereof [from the guide rail in a direction transverse to the rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 355,511 Danner Jan. 4, 1887 863,944 Sampson Aug. 20, 1907 989,566 Callaghan Apr. .18, 1911 1,477,278 OConnor Dec. 11, 1923 1,675,269 Hine June 26, 1928 1,891,522 Bullock Dec. 20, 1932 2,110,610 Rickaby Mar. 8, 1938 2,261,839 Bergmann Nov. 4, 1941 2,368,349 Cornish Jan. 30, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 844,324 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1960 

